Step up: If Verga can't do the job of GMH administrator, he needs to be replaced

This community needs for the longstanding financial problems at Guam Memorial Hospital to be fixed, and that will require its administrator to be a true leader who will take the necessary actions to get that done.

Joseph Verga took charge of Guam Memorial Hospital, starting his duties as chief executive officer, in late August of last year. The hospital's Board of Trustees took time in making the selection, knowing they would need an experienced hospital administrator to deal with the plethora of issues at Guam Memorial Hospital.

Shortly after taking the helm, Verga said his approach would be "ACES+Q" -- accountability, cost-efficiency, excellence in service, safety and quality. To make that happen, the former consultant with Joint Commission Resources and Joint Commission International, said tough decisions would have to be made.

Almost six months later, it's not clear if or when those decisions will be made. The only decision so far seems to be the one Verga made in December, to ask lawmakers to get the government of Guam to help clear the hospital's debts -- more than $20 million. If that were done, he said he'd make sure the hospital moved forward to ensure it didn't again rack up huge amounts of debt.

That's it?

This falls far short of the significant, systemic change that's needed at Guam Memorial Hospital to fix its chronic financial problems.

Where are the plans to streamline operations? Where are the initiatives to improve technology and information systems to maximize efficiencies? What does Verga plan to do about the hospital's chronic billing and collection problems?

Guam Memorial Hospital for too long was run by political appointees who lacked the experience and know-how to get the job done right. The whole point of taking the time and effort to find a qualified professional to run the hospital was to bring in someone with the knowledge, background and experience to do it right, and to fix the longstanding issues at the hospital.

So far, we just haven't seen that from Verga. If he was to be evaluated today, he'd be receiving a failing grade.

Verga needs to step it up or step aside. The governor and the GMH board need to demand it.

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Step up: If Verga can't do the job of GMH administrator, he needs to be replaced

This community needs for the longstanding financial problems at Guam Memorial Hospital to be fixed, and that will require its administrator to be a true leader who will take the necessary actions to